GB2097233A - Insect trap - Google Patents

Abstract

An insect trap suitable for use in cattle yards and other outdoor situations comprises a housing for an ultra-violet light and an associated electrical grid. Chemical attractants may also be used. The housing comprises louvres (36) of light- transmitting material which permit the entry of insects while impeding the entry of rain. The louvres at one side of the housing are blackened and the housing is mounted on a turntable (14) and provided with a wind vane (34) which turns the housing so that it always faces into the wind with the ultra-violet lamp in front of the darkened side of the housing. thereby enhancing the insect- attracting effect of the lamp. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Insect traps This invention relates to insect traps and more particularly, through not exclusively, to housings for use in insect traps. Such a housing serves to contain and/or protect means for attracting and/or killing or catching insects.

The invention is applicable to such housings for use in insect traps whether or not provided with insect attracting means and/or insect catching or killing means.

Many proposals have been made for the construction of insect traps. Some of these employ an attractant such as a chemical which exerts its attracting effect by virtue of an odour. Others employ as attractant, a light source either on its own or in combination with an odoriferous attractant.

Such insect attractants have also been provided with insect killing or catching means such as a chemical agent or electrical means such as a high voltage grid.

Some prior proposals employ a fan to drive insects into catching or killing means.

However, previously proposed insect traps have been found to be unsuitable or ineffective when used out of doors. Their shortcomings in this respect include insufficient attraction of the insects during daylight hours, unsuitability for use in varying weather conditions, and lack of accommodation to the parameters controlling insect movements.

So far as attraction of insects during daylight is concerned, previously proposed insect traps employing light emission as the insect attractant have either involved the use of a totally unprotected light source (which is therefore unsuitable for use in rainy conditions and the like), or have involved the use of heavy shrouding for the light source, such as by wooden slats, whereby emission of light is hindered and the insect attracting effect is operative only during darkness.

So far as weather resistance is concerned, previously proposed insect traps known to the Applicant involving the use of a light source powered by electricity, with or without an electrified grid for killing insects, have been totally unsuitable for use out of doors since the design of such traps has been such that rain would enter the trap and render the whole apparatus electrically live and therefore dangerous.

A further factor in relation to insect trap design is that account needs to be taken of the direction of approach of insects to the trap. Previously proposed insect traps appear to take no account of this factor.

An object of the present invention is to provide an insect trap or housing therefor, offering improvements in or relation to one or more of the following factors: 1. Attraction of insects during daylight hours; 2. Weather resistance; and 3. Accommodation to insect movement and approach patterns.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an insect trap or a housing therefor comprising spaced housing elements forming at least a portion of said housing, said housing elements comprising lighttransmitting material and being spaced apart and positioned relative to each other so as to impede the entry of rain while permitting the entry of insects.

Preferably said spaced housing elements are of transparent material, for example, for example a transparent plastic material such as perspex or other synthetic transparent polymeric material.

The spaced housing elements may be arranged in the form of louvres comprising downwardly and outwardly sloping overlapping elements which prevent the entry of rain which is driven in a horizontal direction by wind. The louvres may be provided on one or more sides of the housing. Preferably the louvres are provided at all four sides of a housing of rectangular shape, as seen in plan view.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an insect trap or a housing therefor wherein at least a portion of the housing is mounted so as to be capable of turning, the housing having openings for the entry of insects, and wherein a wind vane is connected to said housing so that at least said portion of the housing is caused to turn by the action of wind on said wind vane so as to turn said housing portion towards a preferred orientation with respect to the direction of wind.

The housing may be mounted on a turntable so as to be capable of turning. Alternatively, the housing may be arranged to hang from a swivel or the like so as to be free to turn under the action of said wind vane.

Said openings for the entry of insects may be provided in the form of louvres at one or more sides of the housing. The louvres may be of light-transmitting material and preferably are of transparent material.

Preferably, said housing comprises a transparent or light-transmitting portion at one side of the housing and a non-transparent and preferably dark coloured or black portion at the other side of the housing, the wind vane being mounted in relation to said portions so as to turn the housing towards a position in which said transparent portion faces into a wind impinging on the housing.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an insect trap mounted on a turntable therefor; Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of a roof or hood of the insect trap of Fig. 1, the direction of viewing being indicated in Fig. 1 by arrow ll; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the roof or hood of Fig. 2, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow Ill therein; Figure 3A shows a perspective view of a mounting member for use in association with the hood of Figs. 2 and 3, for attaching the hood to a housing for a light source, seen in Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the housing for a light source, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow IV in Fig. 1 and the hood seen in Fig. 1 being omitted;; Figure 4A shows, on a larger scale, a perspective view of a detail of the mounting of a light source within the housing of Fig. 4; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the housing and light source of Fig. 4, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow V therein.

As shown in the drawings, an insect trap 10 comprises a housing 1 2 mounted on a turntable 14. The turntable is mounted on a suitable support (not shown) such as a post or pillar.

Insect trap 10 is intended for use, for example, in or adjacent the stock yard of a cattle farm, for controlling the numbers of insects which gather to prey upon cattle.

Alternative uses for trap 10 include usage for scientific purposes for studying insect population, and thereby obtaining a measure of insect movements.

Housing 1 2 comprises a hood or roof 1 6 mounted above a housing body portion 18 in which is located a light source in the form of a ultra violet lamp 20 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

Hood 1 6 comprises a main lower portion 22 and a smaller upper portion 24. Both hood portions are generally pyramid-shaped.

The lower portion has an opening 26 at its apex, through which heat can escape. This opening is covered by the hood upper portion 24, in overlapping relationship. The upper hood portion is spaced upwardly from the lower portion to provide for the escape of hot air therebetween.

A wind vane 28 is mounted on hood 16 by means of stays 30, 32. The wind vane is of generally triangular form as seen in side elevation (Fig. 2) and has an upwardly extending leading edge 34. The vane is of generally blade like form as seen in plan view (Fig. 3).

All components of the housing 1 2 of insect trap 10 may be formed of plastics material of any suitable kind. Alternative materials may be employed where appropriate, having regard to the function of the part of the trap concerned. Where the trap is to be used out of doors, the materials must of course be resistant to ambient weather conditions over the intended life span of the trap.

Body portion 18 of housing 12 is of generally rectangular form as seen in plan view (Fig. 5) and comprises a series of spaced housing elements 36 in the form of slats of light transmitting material which are spaced apart and postioned relative to each other so as to impede the entry of rain while permitting the entry of insects.

The housing elements 36 at the front F and at the two two sides S1 and S2 are of transparent plastics material such as perspex, whereas the housing elements 36 at the rear R of housing 1 2 are of a plastics material providing a contrasting background for ultraviolet lamp 20. The housing elements 36 at the rear R are preferably non-light transmitting, or opaque, and are dark coloured or black in appearance-preferably with a matt finish.

The housing elements 36 at the front F and sides S1 and S2 of housing 12 need not be transparent, but may be of semi-transparent or translucent material.

The housing elements 36 are secured to corner posts 38 so that the housing elements are in downwardly and outwardly extending attitudes, in overlapping relationship so as to provide openings 40 therebetween for the entry of insects while preventing the entry in a horizontal direction of wind-driven rain.

The base portion 42 of body portion 1 8 of housing 1 2 is in the form of a box, openable at one or more sides, to receive a tray of insect attractant material. Base portion 42 may be openable for this purpose by means of a hinged flap 44, as shown in Fig. 4.

Hood 1 6 is secured to body portion 18 by means of a pair of apertured mounting bars 46, 48 secured to the underside of hood lower portion 22, and a corresponding pair of mounting bars 50, 52 which are securable to body portion 1 8 and have spigots 54 adapted to enter the apertures 56 in mounting bars 46, 48. Mounting bars 50, 52 are securable to body portion 18 by means of flanges 58 at the top of the body portion, and which are engageable over the mounting bars. Mounting bars 50, 52 may be positioned either above or below mounting bars 46, 48, with end spigots 54 frictionally fitting in apertures 56, according to whether the insect trap is suspended by means of a tension member such as a chain 60 (see Fig. 2) attached to hood 16, or is supported on a turntable 14 carried by a suitable support post. Chain 60 may be secured to all four corners of hood 1 6 and, at its upper end, connected to a swivel 62 whereby the insect trap can freely turn under the control of wind vane 28.

The light source, in the form of ultra-violet lamp 20, is mounted within body portion 18 by means of a support bar 54 provided at the upper end of the body portion. The support bar is mounted at one end on a pivot 66, and its other end is securable between a pair of spaced ears 68 by means of a pin (not shown) which can be passed through aligned aper tures in the ears and in the support bar. Ultra violet lamp 20 is secured to the support bar 64 by means of an eye hook 70 through which the support bar extends, as shown in Fig. 4A.

Ultra violet lamp 20 comprises a central light-emitting tube 72 with an associated grid 74. Tube 72 and grid 74 are operated by an appropriate direct current or alternating current source. The ultra violet lamp and its associated grid are of any suitable conventional form and no further details of their construction are deemed necessary.

In use, trap 10 is mounted on turntable 1 4 or is suspended from chain 60, so as to freely turn.

Wind vane 28 is caught by any wind which is blowing and serves to turn housing 1 2 so that the forward side F thereof faces into the wind. This is the direction from which insects approach the insect trap.

Ultra violet lamp 20 is switched on and grid 74 is energised if it is desired to kill insects entering the trap. Alternatively, or in addition, a tray of chemical attractant may be provided in base portion 42 of housing 1 8. This attractant may be provided with an agent to kill the insects or to cause them to stick to it.

Hood 16 serves to shield body portion 18 from direct sunlight and thereby increases the effective light intensity of the ultra violet lamp 20. The lamp itself emits ultra violet light which is merely transmitted through housing elements 36 at the forward side F and at the two sides S1 and S2 of the body portion. The dark background provided by housing elements 36 at the rear side R of the insect trap serves to accentuate the intensity of the ultra violet light emitted by lamp 20 thereby enhancing its effectiveness in attracting insects.

The dark background is, by virtue of the action of wind vane 28, always behind the lamp 20 having regard to the direction of approach of insects in a down-wind direction.

Insects entering the trap 1 0 are drawn by the lamp 20 towards grid 74 and are thereby either killed by the grid or, in the case where a chemical attractant tray is provided, are drawn by the material inside the tray downwards onto the tray where the material thereon disposes of them.

The principal advantages provided by the embodiment of the invention described above include the enhanced effectiveness of the ultra-violet light source during daylight hours due the light-transmitting nature of housing elements 36 and the shade-casting effect of hood 16. The hood is considerably larger than body portion 1 8 and thereby ensures that the body portion is always thoroughly shaded.

In addition, housing elements 36 ensure that even rain driven in a horizontal direction by wind cannot freely enter the body portion 18. Thus, the device is maintained in a dry condition and is thereby safe.

The provision, at all times,of a dark background for the ultra-violet light source, having regard to the direction of approach of insects to the trap, further supplements the attracting effects of the lamp.

Many modifications can be made in the embodiment of the invention described above while remaining within the scope of the invention. Such modifications include variations in the size, number and attitudes and relative disposition of the housing elements or slats 36 and the material from which they are made. The invention is particularly applicable to insect traps employing ultra violet light sources, but is not limited to use with such light sources. Many alternative methods of supporting the light unit within the insect trap can of course be substituted for that shown in the drawings. The form of wind vane 28 may be varied. The apparatus may, for certain applications, be mounted in a fixed attitude on a suitable support. The form of hood 1 6 may be modified considerably.

The ultra violet lamp and its associated high voltage electrified insect-killing grid can be operated by alternating or direct current electrical sources.

Where a chemical attractant is used, this may be chosen so as to be a specific attractant for certain types of insect eg. the frit fly or the pea moth, or the attractant may be more generally effective. The choice of attractant will depend upon the specific function intended for the trap.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not illustrated) the body portion of housing 1 2 is of generally curved and non-rectangular form. The body portion may be generally hemispherical in form, the housing elements thereof being of corresponding curved form and arranged in generally the same relationship to each other as described above. The hood or roof of the trap may be of curved (for example hemispherical) form to correspond with the body portion or may be of straight edged form as described above. The wind vane may likewise have a curved profile as seen in side elevation. The curved form of the body portion of the housing and of the hood or roof improves the aero dynamic characteristics of the trap.

Claims (11)

1. An insect trap or a housing therefor comprising spaced housing elements forming at least a portion of said housing, said housing elements comprising light-transmitting material and being spaced apart and positioned relative to each other so as to impede the entry of rain while permitting the entry of insects.

2. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to claim 1 wherein said spaced housing elements are of transparent material.

3. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said spaced housing elements are arranged in the form of louvres comprising downwardly and outwardly sloping overlapping elements.

4. An insect trap or a housing thereof according to claim 3 wherein said louvres are provided at all four sides of a housing of rectangular shape, as seen in plan view.

5. An insect trap or a housing therefor substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. An insect trap or a housing therefor wherein at least a portion of the trap or housing is mounted or is mountable so as to be capable of turning, the trap or housing having openings for the entry of insects, and wherein a wind vane is connected to said housing so that at least said portion of the housing is caused to turn by the action of wind on said vane so as to turn said housing portion towards a preferred orientation with respect to the direction of wind.

7. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to claim 6 wherein said trap or housing is mounted on a turntable so as to be capable of turning.

8. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to claim 6 wherein said trap or housing is arranged to hang from a swivel or the like so as to be free to turn under the action of said wind vane.

9. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said openings for the entry of insects are provided in the form of louvres at one or more sides of the housing or trap.

10. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to claim 9 wherein said louvres are of light-transmitting material.

11. An insect trap or a housing therefor according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein said housing or trap comprises a transparent or light-transmitting portion at one side of the housing or trap and a non-transparent and preferably dark coloured or black portion at the other side thereof, the wind vane being mounted in relation to said portions so as to turn the housing towards a position in which said transparent or light transmitting portion faces into a wind impinging on the housing.

1 2. An insect trap or a housing therefore according to claim 6 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 3. An insect trap comprising a housing according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with insect attracting and/or insect killing means.